Voting-machine.



N0 MODEL.

C. DE CROES.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. e. 190s.

PATENTBD DEC. 6, 1904.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904.

- C.. DE GRES.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLIUA'HQN Hmm Nov. s, 1903.

No MODEL. 15 SHEETS-SHEET a.

No. 776,729. PATENTEB DEU. 190.

G. DE RES.

VOTNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION PXLED NOV. i). 1903.

N0 MODEL. l5 SHEETS-SHBET gimme/wrom 110.776.729. Y PATBNTBD DBG. 6, 1904. 0.1m cRoEs.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6. 1903. N0 MODEL. 15 SHEET--BHEET 5.

PATENTED DBG. v6, 1904.

c. DE CROSS. VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 6. 1903.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

N() MODEL.

No. 776,729. PATENTED DEG. 6, 1904.

' C. DE GROES.

VOTING MACHINE.

l APPLICATION FILED Nov. e. 1903. No mmm.. 15 SHEETS-SHEET v.

No. 776,729. PATENTBD DBG. 6, 1904. G. DE GRGES.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. e, 1903.

No MODEL. 15 SHEETS-SHEET a.

ZI g4 www, j M,

` PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904.

C. DE CROES.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Home. 1903.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 9,

N() MODEL.

No. 776,729. n

N0 MODEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6. 1903.

PATENTED DEG. 6, 1904.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

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No MODEL.

G. DE CROES.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATIUN FILED NOV. 6. i903.

ATENTED DEC. 6, 1904.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 15.v

No. 776,729. PATENTED DEC. 6, l904-` G. DE CROES.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 6, 1903 "No MODEL. 15 MEETS-SHEET 12.

No. 776,729. PATENTED DEG. 6, 1904. C. DE GROES.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED HOV. 6l 1903.

N0 MODEL n 15 SHEETS-SHEET 13.

No MODEL.

PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904. C. DE GROBS. v

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6. 1903.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 14.

PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904..

C. DE GROES.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. s. 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented December 6, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

CLEMENT DE CROES, OF-IVESTPORT, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOOSIER VOTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SI-IELBYVILLE, INDIANA, A CORPO- RATION OF INDIANA.

VOTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 776,729, dated December 6, 1904.

T0 all w/tont t Wawy concern:

Be it known that I, CLEMENT DE ORoEs, a citizen of the, United States, residing at Test- Vport, in the 4county of Decatur and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvementsin voting-machines generally, and particularly to improvements in my invention for voting-machines illustrated in reissued Letters Patent No. 11,933, dated September 24, 1901, original No. 594,986, dated December 7, 1897, the improvements having reference particularly to the keys for operating the vote registering or recording devices, to apparatus for coordinate voting, and to apparatus whereby certain candidates maybe given votes in excess of one vote by each voter.

The invention also has particular reference to the lock-out mechanism whereby the operating-keys are locked out or prevented from forming contacts with the registers, and it has reference also to various minor details of construction, as will hereinafter appear.

The main object of the invention is to so improve my said former invention as to render the machine as a whole complete, and thereby perfectly fulfil the requirements of the times in voting-machines. Further objects are to provide devices and mechanisms in votingmachine construction which may be cheaply produced and reproduced by means of machinery and that will prove reliable and durable in use.

The invention consists in a voting-machine provided with improved apparatus for voting straight party -tickets, mechanism whereby minority candidates may be given larger counts than majority candid ates,and improved mechanism for coordinate voting'.

The invention consists also in the novel parts and in the novel combination and arrangement Application led Novembre; 6, 1903. Serial No. 180,054. (No model.)

of parts, as hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings forming parts of this specification, in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts or features, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a voting-machine constructed substantially in accordance with the invention, subject to modifications to suit the numbers and lengths of tickets that may be required. The front doors commonly employed are here omitted, the lower portion of the case being open and the platform whereby the machine may be put into working condition being shown in its operative position. Figs. 2, 3, and 1- are details of minor parts connected with the keyboard of the machine. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the plane at the rear of the keyboard, showing novel framework in elevation and also main limiting-bars whereby the simultaneous operation of two or more keys (and registers) affecting candidates for the same oice is prevented, the figure illustrating the mechanism usually employed in the sections corresponding to the lower right-hand keyboard-section inFig. 1. Fig. 6 is a plan of one of the numerous horizontal plates behind the keyboard whereby the limiting-bars are supported. Fig. 7 is a Vertical sectional view in the plane at the rear of the partition employed behind the main limiting-bars for supporting the inner ends of the operating-keys, the complete improved lockout mechanism being shown in front elevation, two sections of mechanism being shown corresponding to the sections illustrated in Fig'. 5 and in operative positions. Fig. 8 is a front elevation, and Fig. 9 an inverted plan view, of the main operating-bar improved in details of construction. Fig. 10

the lock-out bars. Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the parts that are arranged at the rear of those shown at the front in Fig. 10, showing portions of registers to indicate their relative positions and also showing' a multiple register-operating device whereby when a key at the head of a ticket is operated the votes 'for all the candidates on the ticket will be registered. Fig'. 14 is a front elevation oi' a train oi' the main limiting-bars, showing operating-keys in transverse section with relation thereto, and Fig. 15 is a horizontal sectional view of the bars on a plane on top ot the keys, illustrating the manner and means by which the operation of the keys in each horizontal row representing a candidate or office is limited to one key to prevent tampei'- ing. Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 7, with the difference in the positions otl certain lockout members resulting' from the operations of certain operating-keys. Fig. 17 is a fragmentary i'eproduction of the upper portion of Fig'. 16, showing the maimer in which all the remaining' operating-keys are locked out after a straight ticket has been voted. Fig. 18 is a horizontal sectional view on the plane ot' the broken line 1 l in Fig'. showing the operating-keys and lock-out bars with relation to the registers. Fig. 19 is a horizontal sectional view on the plane of the line 2 2 in Fig'. 5, showing portions of the lock-out mechanism i'or the coordinate-voting section. Fig. 2O is a vertical transverse sectional view on the plane of the line 3 3 in Fig. 5, showing the arrangement of the keys for the partyticket-voting mechanism and also showing' the cordinate-voting apparatus in relation to the registers. Fig. Q1 is an elevation of the lock-out mechanism for the operating-keys employed for multiplying votes and is intended to be arranged at the lower ends of the State tickets corresponding to the bottom of the lower left-hand section oi' the keyboard in Fig. 1, the mechanism being set in gear7 or so that voting may take place. Fig. 22 is a view similar to that in Fig. 9.1, but with the forward lock-out member omitted in order to clearly show the remaining devices. Fig 23 is a view similar to that in Fig. 22, but with the front lock-out member thereon omitted in order to clearly show the limiting-bars whereby the count may be limited to three votes per votei'. Fig. 24 is a view similar to that in Fig. 23,but with the limiting-bars omitted to cleai'ly show the lock-out bars in operative positions. Fig. 25 is a View similar to that in Fig. 21, with the difference that the lock-out mechanism appears in the proper positions they would assume after one ot' the keys in the upper horizontal row may have been operated, thereby locking ont all of the other keys. Fig. 26 is a view also similar to that in Fig. 21, with the diiference that the mechanism appears as it would after the operation keys in the two middle horizontal rows. Fig.

l 27 is a view also similar to that in Fig. 21, with the difference that the mechanism apl pears as it would after the operation oi two oi' the possible three keys that may be operated in the lower horizontal row. Fig. 2S is a perspective view of the lock-out bar (or l plate) that is employed in locking' out the straight-ticket keys when cscratch voting' l is done. Fig. 29 is a rear perspective view of the carrici' for lock-out mechanism for the party-tickets and the devices 'for operating the registers for all of the candidates on a ticket at'ter voting' a straight pai'ty-ticket. Fig'. 30 is a perspective view ot a multiple retractor that is operated by the main retractor ior returning the lock-out bars in the coordinate mechanism horizontally to their normal positions after the voting opei'ations. Fig. 31 is a perspective view ot one oi: the longer independentlock-outbars, shorter bars designed to cooperate with but two or more operating-keys being 'formed in a similar manner, except as to the number ot openings or recesses to permit passage otl thekeys. Fig'. 32 is a perspective view oi' the carrier and the lock-out bars for the section designed to accommodate multiple voting, where a voter may give three votes to one candidate or one and one-half votes to each ot` two candidates or one vote to each of three candidates vlor the same oilice, the necessary limiting-bars being omitted in this ligure in order to avoid obscuring the other parts. Fig'. is a perspective view ot' one ot' the improved operating-keys, the outer end of which is broken away; and Fig. 34 is a perspective view ol the movable head that is mounted on and t'orms pai't of the head of the key. Fig. is a fragmentary detail view illustrating the relative positions of the key-wheel or operating-wheel of the register, the operatingkey, and the lock-out and limiting' bars, the view being' a horizontal section above the key which is in its normal position. Fig'. 36 is a fragmentary vertical sectional detail view illustrating an operating-key in contact with the key-wheel ot' the register. Fig'. 37 is a horizontal sectional detail view similar to Fig'. 35, with the difference that the operating-key and its movable head appear in the positions they would assume when being disengaged 'from the key-wheel oil the register, the key being about to retract to its normal position. Fig'. 38 is an inverted perspective view oil the head omitted and the outer end broken away. Fig. 39 is a perspective view ot' the carrier shown in Fig. 32 and the limiting-bars and lock-out bars mounted thereon. Fig'. LO is a perspective view of a set ot dual lock-out bai's employed in the mechanism i'or multiple voting' in connection with the apparatus shown in Fig. 39. Fig. t1 is a perspective view ol a set ot' triple lock-ont bars employed also in l the mechanism for multiple voting' in con-necimproved operating-key, with the movable IOO tion with the lock-out bars shown in Figs. 39 and 40. Fig. 42 is a perspective view of a multiple retractor that is operated by the main reti-actor i'or returning the lock-o ut bars shown particularly in Figs. 32, 39, 40, and 4l horizontally to their normal positions after the voting operations. Fig. 43 is afragmentary horizontal sectional view showing a portion of the mechanism whereby straight party votes may be east and registered. Fig. 44 is a fragmentary elevation view of parts in detail that are illustrated in Fig. 43. Fig. 45 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view through the section shown in Fig. 43, showing parts o1c the mechanism for straightticket voting. Fig. 46 is a sectional diagrammatie view illustrating the train of apparatus for setting the lock-out mechanism into and out of'gear. Fig. 47 is a perspective view of a set of multiple limiting-bars employed in connection with the section ofV the machine that is adapted for coordinate voting. Fig. 48 is a perspective view of the carrier for the lock-out bars employed in connection with the mechanism for coordinate voting, the multiple retractor illustrated in Fig. 30 being also shown in its operative relation therewith. Fig. 49 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating the manner in which the operating-keys engage the limiting-bars while being operated to actuate the registers. Fig. 50 is a view similar to Fig. 49,but showing the key as it appears when being retracted after engagement with the register. Fig. 51 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view as on the plane of the line Z2 in Fig. 21 to illustrate the various relative positions assumed by the operating-keys with respect to the key-wheels of the registers and the lock-out mechanism.

In the drawings mechanisms will be found that are designed for casting several classes of ballots, viz: For partytickets, either straight or mixed, for permitting each voter to cast three votes for the collective candidates for a certain otce so distributed that one candidate may receive the whole three votes or two candidates may receive each one and one-half votes or three candidates may each receive one. vote, at the option of the voter, for constitutional amendments and the like matters` where an aiirmative and a negative vote may be required, the mechanism being also adapted for voting for candidates oi' two parties and for voting for a predetermined number of non-partisan candidates to be selected from a greater number that may have been nominated for one ofce, as a nonpartisan judge or members of a school-board.

In Fig. 1 the keyboard will serve to illustrate the arrangement of the tickets and the keys for voting for the various candidates for oiiices, and it is obvious that the keyboard and the necessary mechanisms may be extended to any desiredextent, and the relative positions of the diii'erent tickets and voting' mechanisms may be changed to suit requirements. Any suitable form oi' 'frame and case for the machine may be constructed, it beiiig1)1'ele1- able that the whole apparatus be incloscd when not in use and that the keyboard be of suitable height so as to be in the range of vision of a standing voter. `It is designed that the tickets be printed on separate slips of card or paper and secured against the front of the keyboard at the sides of the operating-keys, each slip to contain allot the candidates of a party. A horizontal bead a divides the keyboard into upper and lower sections, and these are divided by verticalbeads and c, so that four principal sections appear. The upper left-hand section is designed for national ballots particularly, as well as for others, the lower left-hand section 'for State tickets, in the lower part et which below the line Z the mechanism for multiple voting may be arranged to be set for use simultaneously with the other mechanisms, but constructed differently in some respects, the upper right-hand section for county ballots, and the lower right-hand section for any class of party-tickets and for coordinate or group voting, the mechanism for which, arranged below the line Z', differs from the others in some respects.

Specifically, in construction the keyboard A is at the i'ront of the machine proper, being vertical and suitably fixed in the frame of the machine so as to entirely obscure the registers and thelock-out mechanisms. The operating-keys extend through suitable openings in the keyboard. Suitable guides B B B2 extend vertically at the front of the keyboard and serve also as holders for the tickets, the guides preferably being composed of metal strips, each having raised lips (Z d at their sides or a lip at either side, as required, and apertures e, through which the keys extend. The ticketsf may be inserted behind the lips and be suitably secured against tampering therewith, if desired. Of course the keyboard may be composed of strips and the guides i'orm parts thereof.

The operating-keys C, arranged in horizontal rows, are arranged for use in voting' straight party-tickets, the keys C for voting mixed tickets or scratching the keys C2 C C7 Us, arranged in horizontal rows below the line Z, are intended for multiple voting in connection with State tickets, the keys C3, arranged in two vertical rows below the line Z', are vfor voting' yes or 110, and the keys CA1 and Coperate in coordinate voting. The case has sides g and g, a bottom t, a top L', and a back For the purpose of illustrating the different types and modilications of lock-out mechanisms in detail they are arranged in the drawings in operative sections of suitable sizes, the iirst to be described being those that properly belong to the lower right-hand scction of the keyboard and shown particularly IOO in Figs. 5, 7, 10, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20,

parts thereof appearing also in other ligures.

At the rear of the keyboard A a suitable number of horizontal plates D are arranged and. suitably secured, there being a plate under each horizontal row of operating-keys, as preferably constructed, and others may also be employed, if desired. The plates are in the nature of frame members and need not of necessity be solid plates. A partition E or E is secured vertically at the rear of the plates D parallel to the keyboard A, and the inner end portions of the operating-keys are mounted in suitable openings in the partition so as to slide in the keyboard and in the partition. Frame-pieces j' j are provided in one of the sections, to which vertical rods 71; and are connected, and similar rods are connected to frame-pieces ZZ in another section, (seen particularly in Figs. 5 and 20,) the rods extending through perforations m and at in the plates D. A suitable number of rods p extend under the plates D transversely thereof for their support and are secured to the keyboard A and the partition E or E. Also the plates may be partially supported by means of projections p, attached to the keyboard and the partition under the plates D.

r1`he improved operating-keys used throughout the machine are designed, as above stated, to move longitudinally of their axes, and all are substantially like the key C. In each standard key-body is a perforation f] to receive an arm of a retracting-spring. Fach operating-key has a relatively fixed head fr, having an inclined side face r, designed to engage the lockout-bars, although such engagement may be made solely by the movable head F, with which each key is provided. The keys are provided each with a retracting-springs, which extends about arod 77', one arm of the spring engaging a rod and the other arm thereof entering the perforation q in the key. '1n some cases lateral guides t for the keys may be attached to the tops ofthe plates D. The movable heads F are connected to the heads 7' by means of pivots u, situated near the part of the head fr that normally rests against the partition E or E', being' at the left-hand side of the longitudinal axis of the key. Fach head F has a linger o, having the extremity thereof turned downwardly beyond the head r, and certain heads F also are provided each with a iin w at the top thereof immediately above the inclined side fr of the head fr. Normally the head F rests upon the head fr, so that the lin w extends in the same angle of inclination as that of the side fr and cannot be changed in position except in the direction that will carry the finger@ beyond the inner end of the head r. Each operating-key has a recess a' in each side of the body thereof near the head r, although a recess in one side only is sufhcient in some of the keys. The keys may be provided with suitable iinger-knobs and suitable stop, as will be obvious.

In order to insure against the possibility of two or more keys in the same horizontal row beingsimultaneously operated, main limitingbars Gr are provided in all sections of the machine, which operate independently of the lock-out mechanism, whereby other keys in a horizontal row are prevented from being operated after one of the number may have been operated. The bars G are formed as thin plates of suitable widths and are placed on edge against the partition E or F] behind the rods between the bodies of the operating-keys, each bar being of suitable length to equal the distance from the body of one key to the bottom of the recess fr in an adjacent key-body. Each bar has a projection 7/ at one end thereof extending above the adjacent key-body. Referring to Figs. 14E and 15, it will be seen that when the projection 1/ does not engage the end of the adjacent bar the key-body between the two bars may enter the opening between the ends of the bars, and when the projection fz/ is in engagement with the adjacent end of the nearest other bar the key-bod y bey tween such two bars cannot enter further than the point havingI the recess therein, the bars in such ease being held by another key that may be in operation, the bars being capable of movement endwise, so that any one of the keys may be operated at a time.

Each section that is designed to be employed in voting for party-tickets is arranged so that a complete ticket may be voted by the operation of one key. 1n this section the mechanism comprises a carrier H, which is situated behind the partition E or E slightly beyond the inner ends of the operating-keys, lock-out bars L, mounted on the carrier for the individual-oiiice keys, and a lock-out bar N for the ticket-head keys or those for voting straight tickets, also a combined main operating-bar and lock-out bar I, which supports the carrier.

r1`he carrier H is formed as an open rectangular frame, and it is provided at its upper corners with projections 1 and 5, extending' forwardly. The vertical end bars of the frame are provided with forwardly-exteiuling projections 6.

rlhe main operating-bar l, which also performs the functions of locking' out the keys for the heads of the party-tickets, has arms 7 and 8 at its ends, and at or near the top thereof is a bearing 9, the to`p having recesses 10 and 11 so spaced apart that the projections 4 and 5 may lit therein. Below the arms 7 and 8 are shoulders 12 and 13, which may serve to engage stops. Suitably spaced along' the bar are a suitable number of apertures 11, one to each key C employed. In each aperture is a projection 1,5, extending from the bottom of the aperture upwardly. A hood IOO l l l 16 is attached to the front of the bar H and extends partially over the apertures 14 from the tops thereof.

Suitable supports, as 17 and 18, are provided at the sides of the section and have pivoting brackets 19 attached thereto,in which are mounted levers J J', pivoted between their ends, and the bar I rests upon the forward ends of the levers and may slide somewhat thereon. The projections 4 and 5 normally rest on the top of the bar I, or, specifically, on the arm 7 and bearing 9 thereof, so that the levers J J/ support the bar 1 and the latter supports the carrier H. To the rear ends of the levers J Jl are connected links K K, extending to the lower portion of the machine-case for operating the levers. A treadle 20 is connected at its rear side to the links, so that the treadle may swing upward in the case when not in use. The forward part of the treadlel is provided with a pivotbar 21, which rests on pivot-blocks 22 on the bottom /t of the case when the treadle is in operative position horizontally. It will be obvious, however, that other means than the treadle may be devised for operating the links K K.

The carrier H supports a suitable number of lock-out bars L for the keys that are designed for use in voting for separate oliices or scratching party-tickets, the bars being mounted on the projections 6 and adapted to slide longitudinally, each bar cooperating with a horizontal row of keys, it being understood that each horizontal row of keys corresponds to a list of oflices or candidates of the same order in all of the different tickets-that is to say, the keys in a row are coordinate, because of the party-tickets reading from the top downwardly in the usual order. Each bar L is formed as a thin oblong plate placed on edge,4 and in the lower edge thereof are recesses 23, the sides of which provide abutments 24 and 25, which perform the functions of projections inoperation, but are formed as shown as a matter of economy, as will be obvious. There is a notch to clear each key employed, land each notch is suflciently broad to permit the head fr to pass through, but not admitting the head F, except when the latter is turned on its `pivot and being' retracted with the key.

At the right-hand ends of the bars L a stationary stop member 26 is provided, on which a suitable number of latches 27 are mounted, as shown more particularly in Figs. 11 and l2, the latches having pivots 28 and rests 29 provided therefor, and it is designed that when the bars are not in operative positions the latches will be supported by the rests 29. Then the bars L are elevated to operative positions, the latches will rest thereon and will drop behind the ends of the advanced bars L when they have been operated, thus preventing retraction of the bars.

The carrier H is provided at the rear thereof with bearings 30 and 31, attached to the top and the bottom rails, in which are pivoted swinging rack-bars M, having each an arm 32 at the top thereof extending forwardly beyond the pivot of the bar and a plurality of projections 33 at the lower portion thereof, for the purpose of simultaneously operating all the registers provided for a party-ticket when a straight ticket may have been voted by usingl one key alone.

` The lock-out bar N has a suitable number of apertures 34, one for each key employed, and is part of the form ofv an open rectangular frame, the bottom of the frame being' suitably supported, so as to permit horizontal movements only of the frame carrying the bar longitudinally at the front of the bar I. An arm 35 is attached to the frame, and thereby operatively connected with the bar N, the arm extending across the left-hand ends ofthe bars L.

A retractor O (formerly termed a follower is suitably mounted movably at the outer side of the arm 35, normally engaging the same, and it is pressed by a springl 36 and connected with bell-cranks 37, which are connected by a link 38 to the lever J for witl drawing the retractor from the arm to permit operation of the bars 1, L, and N.

At the rear of the lock-out mechanism beyond the heads of the operating-keys in all sectionsof the machine toothed key-wheels P are rotatively mounted and operatively connected with suitable registers Q, the wheels being the medium of communication between the keys and the registers.

In the lower portion of the section that is arranged below the beada and at the right of the bead c is another set of lock-out mechanism, as previously referred to, for coordinate votingand also for votingI for and against measures, this mechanism being arranged below the line Z and illustrated in detail particularly in the lower sections of Figs. 5, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, and 20, and partially in Figs. A 47, 48, 49, and 50, and will now be fully described. A carrier S is provided forsupporting the lock-out bars and the limiting-bars, and it is supported on levers J2 J 3 (similar to the levers J J, previously described,) which are connected to the links K K and controlled thereby. r1`he carrier comprises rear vertical bars 69, having projections and front bars 71, parallel to the bars 69, and is provided with projections 72 at the bottom thereof. In the left-hand side of the carrier are asuitable number of lock-out bars L', designed to cooperate with the two vertical rows of keys C3, each bar having two notches 23 to clear the two keys for 7 and against arranged foreach subject to be voted upon, the bars L being mounted on projections 7() between the bars 69 and 71 and provided with a stationary stop bar 73, having' latches 27 IIO IZO 

